igus recently introduced newly-designed versatile liners that reduce abrasion during linear movements, allow easy sliding, and curtail wear in metal parts.
The tribologically-optimized liners are being used as edge and product protection in packaging and conveyor systems. igus, the Germany-based manufacturer of motion plastics, runs its North American operations out of Providence, R.I. The liners are now available in new sizes and featured advanced adhesive backing.
Tribo-tape liners are used wherever a smooth, silent, simple and lubrication-free sliding is required. The liners are already used in furniture construction and in the wood industry as well, where dust and chips prevail. For example, to simplify the operation of a saw when cutting wood fiber insulation boards, the liner ensures easy movement of the rotating stop on the saw blade.
The iglide liners are lubrication-free, so sawdust does not stick to the guidance. To increase the service life of the extremely wear-resistant films, igus has improved the adhesive backing. The new adhesive is also now FDA-compliant, making it suitable for use in the food industry.
Extreme Wear Resistance to Standard Materials
The company tested tribo-tape materials for high wear resistance in its test laboratory, which spreads out over more than 29,500 square feet at its headquarters in Cologne, Germany.
In a wear test against a stainless steel pin, all four tribo-tapes scored up to 10 times better values compared to PTFE glass fabric and PTFE bronze compounds. In addition, the materials display low abrasion and are lubrication-free and maintenance-free.
Four High-Performance Polymers for Different Applications
igus manufactures four liners with different properties so that they can be used in different applications. The A160 liner is made with FDA-compliant materials and is highly resistant to media and meets the stringent requirements for hygiene and safety in the food industry. Due to its blue color, the material is also visually detectable. It has superior wear-resistance, a low coefficient of friction and can be used in applications up to 194º F.
Tribo-tape made with the iglide material B160 features added wear resistance and can be used in temperatures ranging from -40º F to 194º F. Due to its black color, the iglide B160 tribo-tape can also be discretely assimilated in visible areas, for instance in the furniture industry.
The material W160 has been developed for hygiene-sensitive industries. It has antibacterial properties and is used in machines for dental hardening or sterilization. In addition, iglide W160 contains UV-stabilizing additives, so that its material properties do not change even in light-induced oxidation.
The fourth tribo-tape is made from the high-temperature specialist iglide V400: it is extremely heat-resistant and can be used at temperatures up to 320º F. It can also be used in temperatures as low as -40º F (or -58º F without the adhesive back). Due to its extreme wear resistance, iglide V400 is suitable for use at high loads and temperatures and is also resistant to a variety of media.
Universal Use With New Sizes
The versatile liners are universally applicable and can be easily cut. They are available in standard widths of 20, 50, 100 and 500 meters and a thickness of 0.5 and 1 millimeters. The iglide V400 is available in the standard width of 120 millimeters and a film thickness of 0.5 millimeters. All tribo-tapes can be delivered with and without adhesive backing. In addition, igus offers the cutting of special geometries or special widths.
In the beverage industry, for example, easy gliding is provided by the advanced, highly wear-resistant and abrasion-resistant tribo-tape liners from igus. (Source: igus GmbH)
igus
www.igus.eu
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